Meet Downton Abbey’s First Black Cast Member

Julian Fellowes has made good on his promise to diversify the halls of Downton Abbey. Today, we learn that the British TV drama has cast its first black actor in a role teased to us several months ago.

Downton-ites (CC: Newt Gingrich), meet Gary Carr, the show’s newest casting addition and latest attempt to fill the gaping hole left by departing actors Dan Stevens, Jessica Brown Findlay, and Siobhan Finneran. Carr will play “Jack Ross, a male musician in the 25-to-30-year-old range who plays at an exclusive club in the 20s.” (Controversial fling for Edith, anyone?) Earlier this year, Downton producers were reportedly looking for someone “black and very handsome” who could play a “real man (not a boy) with charm and charisma.”

Judging by a YouTube interview on the Web series “The Syrus Lowe Down” uploaded in February (below), we can confirm that the 26-year-old English actor—who co-stars on the BBC comedy/crime dramaDeath in Paradise—is indeed very handsome and appears to be quite charming! While his Wikipedia page contains disappointingly few details, it does mention that Carr is a dancer and musician in addition to being an actor.

To properly welcome him to the cast, Downton Abbey executive producer Gareth Neame released a statement, saying: “We are delighted to introduce another fantastic, dynamic character to Downton Abbey. His addition will bring interesting twists to the drama which we can’t wait for viewers to see in Series four.”